The Faculty Senate of North Georgia College & State University met Thursday, February 10, 2000 in Room 019 of the Newton Oakes Center.  The meeting was called to order at 12:31 PM by CEO Gessell with the following senators present:  Anthony, Barnett, Batchelder, Biddy, Carroll-Cobb, Corotto, Democko, Gordon, Herbert, Kokkala, Patten, Roberts-Betsch, Sisk, Skelly, Smith, Spraker, Stahl, Szuminski, Temples, Tennis, Thurman, Weinberg, Wiedmann, Woods, and Yonts.  Others present were President Hansford, VPAA Buckhiester, Ms. Peggy Inman (Staff Council Representative), and Dr. John Nardo.  Senator Link was excused, and Senator Margeson was absent.

Minutes of the January 13, 2000 Meeting

The minutes for the Faculty Senate meeting of January 13, 2000 were submitted with the following correction and additions:

Under "President's Report," paragraph four, it should read " . . . between 250 and 500 students . . . ".
In paragraph five, VPAA Buckhiester meant to specify that the 12:30 meeting hour was recommended by CEO Gessell.  Further, in paragraph six, dealing with on-going searches, VPAA Buckhiester intended to specify that the fourth search is for the Dean of School of Business and Government.

Under "New Business," in the last paragraph before "Announcements," VPAA Buckhiester wished to clarify that there is an understanding that Friday classes could be added for four hour classes and laboratory classes.  He did not intend to imply that Friday classes could be added only for laboratory classes.

There being no other corrections or additions, a motion was made by Senator Tennis to approve the minutes as corrected and amended.  Senator Kokkala seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

President's Report

President Hansford informed the Senate that the budget is still undecided, but we will probably receive level funding for next year.  The Governor has recommended a 3% raise which is expected to be approved but may be deferred up to three months.  Although we can probably expect level funding for next year, we are currently required to save $278,000.00 out of our current budget for inclusion as part of next year's budget in order to achieve level funding.  There will, however, probably be an increase in tuition.  Traditionally, the state covers approximately 75% of cost with tuition covering 25%.  In addition, student fees will be closely examined.  We have requested an increase of $3.00 per semester in Student Affairs Fee, an increase of $10.00 per semester for the Student Athletic Fee, and the instituting of an Information Technology Fee.  Both fee increases and the new fee were all approved by the Student Government Association and will now go before the BOR.

Regarding changes in health insurance coverage, President Hansford reiterated that the letter sent out by his office to all faculty and staff had been composed by the Chancellor's office and was sent out on all campuses in the State University system.  He acknowledged that a great many unknowns still exist.  It is known, however, that the current Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage plan will carry an employee paid rate increase of 100%.  In other words, the employee's contribution to the premium costs will double.  The rate for the new PPO plan is not yet established.  The PPO will, however, be available to all state employees.  As such, it has an extremely large potential insured base which should give it considerable power to negotiate fees with providers.  There is, as yet, no indication of precisely when the new PPO plan will become available.  It is expected, though, to be activated sometime in the Spring.  President Hansford expects that information sessions will be conducted at that time and covered employees will be given the opportunity to enroll then.

Staff Council Representative Inman pointed out that, if raises are deferred three months, the overall raise for an employee will, in fact, not equal 3% for the year.  President Hansford acknowledged this as correct.  Senator Weinberg added that, given deferment of raises, increases in the employee contribution for health care coverage, and the fact that 3% is to be the average raise, some employees could experience an actual reduction in compensation.

President Hansford was asked who was tasked with disseminating information regarding the new PPO once it is available.  He informed the Senate that would be the task of the VP for Business and Finance and the Director of Human Resources.  The question was then raised whether or not the deferred raises in salary would be used to calculate base salary for raises the following year.  President Hansford acknowledged that he did not know.

Senator Skelly inquired as to the difference between a PPO and an HMO.  President Hansford, along with a number of Senators, responded that the primary difference seems to be a matter of ownership.

Senator Smith asked if there was anything that could be done to stop the deferment of salary raises.  President Hansford suggested that faculty members could contact their legislative representatives.  He cautioned, however, that the Chancellor seemed to feel that achieving level funding for next year was the bigger battle.  The Chancellor expects next year to be a better year regarding salary raises.

Senator Weinberg pointed out that NGCSU faculty could try to contact other state employees affected by the raise deferment in order to speak to the legislature as a group.  Senator Weinberg went on to inquire whether the raises will be distributed within departments on the basis of a bell shaped curve.  He went on to explain that he had heard that the guideline requiring such a distribution was no longer in effect.  He had also heard, within his own department, that the guideline was still in place.  VPAA Buckhiester explained that the Central Office is still looking for a spread within a department.  In other words, the Central Office is still looking for evidence that the institution, through individual departments, is discriminating in the awarding of salary increases on the basis of performance.  All raises are to be understood as merit raises.  VPAA Buckhiester went on to assure the Senators that the administration has not tried to impose a bell shaped curve at the departmental level.  He stated that NGCSU will do its best to demonstrate that it did not merely award raises on the basis of a flat, equal distribution.

CEO Gessell asked what figure had been requested for the new Information Technology Fee.  President Hansford informed the Senate that the new fee request is $40.00 per semester and reiterated that this had been approved by the SGA.  Senator Tennis added that the monies generated by the fee would go directly to student oriented technological improvements.  Senator Sisk asked if the fees would be covered by HOPE.  President Hansford responded that the Information Technology Fee would be so covered.

Senator Smith stated that he had heard a rumor that two thirds of the health care expenditures had gone to the University of Georgia and inquired if this was true.  President Hansford responded that he had no knowledge concerning this.

Continuing his report, President Hansford announced that the search committee for the Vice President of Institutional Advancement was making significant progress.  The committee was very pleased with the new pool of applicants.

President Hansford next announced that the Stewart Library expansion project had been moved up from five to three years.  If we meet the necessary requirements by March, the project will be funded and completed two years earlier than initially announced.  President Hansford stated that NGCSU has an excellent record for meeting such requirement deadlines.

Concerning the plan for a new, privatized dormitory, the President announced that he had met with the Chancellor and consultants and that plan is moving forward.  He pointed out that, in the previous night's baseball game, the NGCSU Saints were victorious, beating their opponents 16 to zero.

President Hansford reminded the Senate that the Alumni organization will be sponsoring a Career Day on February 24th.  At least 30 alumni will be present to meet and speak with students about various careers.  The President asked that all faculty work to get the word out to the student body.  He went on to announce that VPSA Bryant is in the initial stages of setting up a Parents' Council.  He was pleased to announce, again, that NGCSU's new Educational Specialist Degree program had been approved.  In closing, he reminded the Senate that February is Black History Month.  He pointed out that two great events had already been held and reminded the Senators that the next week would see the Gospel Choir Concert, followed on the 29th with the appearance of Dick Gregory.

CEO's Report

CEO Gessell informed the Senate that Vice President McConnell had been tasked to establish an ad hoc committee on grievance procedures, and that Senator Tennis would provide more information on this later in the meeting.  Elections for Senators-at-Large are proceeding with a good return on ballots.  Once that election process is completed, the next order of business will be determining Senators for the Committee on Committees, followed by the selection of faculty for that same committee.

The CEO next informed the Senate that conflicts exist regarding the meeting dates of the Faculty Senate for March and April.  An invited speaker will be appearing on campus during the meeting hour on March 9th.  Additionally, the April 13th meeting date for the Senate is in error as that meeting is supposed to occur on the last day of the semester.  She asked for a motion to change the March 9th meeting of the Faculty Senate to March 16th and the April 13th meeting to April 27th.  Senator Smith so moved, Senator Herbert seconded, the motion carried.  Senator Woods suggested that the CEO send a separate e-mail message announcing the changes to all faculty and staff.

Unfinished Business

Senator Sisk addressed the Senate to correct an error regarding the names submitted and recommended as advisors to the military companies at the last meeting.  The name of Ann Sumners was submitted and recommended in error.  It was intended that the name of Dr. Jeanne Samter be submitted and recommended for Charlie Company.  The Senate approved the correction.

New Business

Senator Tennis reported that, in reviewing current policies and procedures regarding grievances, she had found the current system to be less than unified and cohesive.  The Faculty Senate may address grievances covering faculty only but excluding issues of sexual harassment, salary, evaluation, promotion, tenure, or non-renewal of contract.  P & P #885.0 covers all employees but excludes issues of salary, promotion, tenure, and non-renewal of contract.  Administrative Memo #10 covers all employees but includes only issues of discrimination (including sexual harassment).  P & P #890.0 covers all employees and stipulates the procedure outlined in Administrative Memo #10.  As a result, our grievance policy and procedures are very uncoordinated at present.  Since it is to everyone's advantage to have a clear and coordinated policy in place before a problem arises, a committee has been formed to proposed a coordinated process and procedure.  The committee members are VPSA Bryant, Dr. Steve Noble, Dr. Bob Saba, Ms. Peggy Inman, and a yet-to-be-named student representative from SGA.

Dr. John Nardo brought two proposals before the Senate for approval.  Both proposals were in regard to proposed Bylaws Amendments remanded back to the Senate by the faculty at the Spring Faculty meeting.

Amendment I.    Academic Activities Committee:  Include:  Dean of each school and Director of the Division of Learning Support Services

The proposed amendment was approved.

Amendment II.   Library Committee:  Include:  Two faculty representatives per school, one representative from the Division of Learning Support Services, the Vice President for Student Affairs or an appropriate designate, and Chief Information Officer or an appropriate designate.

The proposed amendment was approved.

Senator Roberts-Betsch next addressed the Senate.  She announced that a number of complaints have been made regarding the current, official meeting hour.  Among other things, the current meeting time can make it difficult for persons to have a lunch and attend a meeting.  A suggestion had been made to change the official meeting hour from the current 12:30 - 2:00 PM time period to 2:00 - 3:30 PM.  She asked the Senators for their views on the proposed change.  Senator Spraker pointed out that such a change would create serious problems regarding the scheduling of science laboratory classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  In contrast, it was pointed out that the change would greatly benefit the Nursing Department in terms of scheduling clinical days for nursing students.  Senator Tennis voiced the opinion that lunch ought to be the least concern.  Other senators concurred with some pointing out that a person could always bring a lunch to the meeting.  CEO Gessell inquired whether any thought had been given to applying the meeting hour to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (rather than Tuesdays and Thursdays) since part of the problem seems to be that two days a week are not enough to contain all the meetings.  Senator Sisk asked if anyone had looked at the issue from the perspective of what is the least attractive time for classes for students?  Senator Smith suggested that this is a point that should be considered in terms of the entire student body.  Senator Corotto spoke out against making the decision a matter of majority preference.  He pointed out that a democratic vote on the question may not be the best way to go since it too easily results in a tyranny of the majority.  Senator Patten moved that the official meeting period not be changed.  Senator Spraker seconded the motion.  Senator Batchelder suggested that a meeting time of 3:30 - 5:00 PM be considered since it's a poor time for classes.  Senator Roberts-Betsch pointed out that the official meeting period is not merely for meetings but also for cultural and campus wide events.  She suggested that students will not stay around, especially commuters, for meetings and events scheduled so late in the day.  VPAA Buckhiester informed the Senate that a suggestion was made to limit the use of the official meeting period to campus wide events and meetings.  The vote was called, and the motion to keep the current official meeting period was approved.

Announcements

Senator Yonts reminded the senators that the Sweetheart Review will be held on Saturday at 11:00 in the gym, and all are welcome to attend.

Staff Council Representative Inman informed the Senate that the Staff Council is once again sponsoring the Relay for Life, a fundraising event to help fight breast cancer.  All members of the faculty and staff are invited to participate and support the cause.

Senator Democko informed the Senate that developmental screening for young children is still on-going and more children, 4 years old and younger, are needed.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
 
 

Sally Wiedmann, Secretary
NGCSU Faculty Senate